What 217 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic

THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING.

NHTSA ODI 11140266

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SARRA CHEVROLET (1170 CENTERPOINT PARKWAY, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35215, (205) 853-2906) WHERE THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 24,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE: P0597 (THERMOSTAT HEATER FAULT, REPLACE THERMOSTAT HOUSING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,397.

NHTSA ODI 11129501

THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE COOLANT LEAK IN THE WATER PUMP FOR THE 1.4L ENGINE IS HAPPENING TO MY 1.8L CHEVROLET SONIC

NHTSA ODI 11073504

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT 3 TIMES AND IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11062970

VEHICLE STALLS AND TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. NO WARNING. NO CODES APPEAR ON DASH. AFTER APPRX 5-10 MINUTES OF THE CAR BEING DEAD (NOT ABLE TO START) IT SEEMS TO "REBOOT" AND START BACK UP AGAIN WITHOUT A JUMP TO THE BATTERY. THE CAR HAS STALLED ON BOTH THE FREEWAY (1ST TIME) AND CITY STREETS. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND BOTH ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS COMBINED. A CLAIM HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO GM BUT WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF ON ME THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL LOCATED APPRX 1 MILE AWAY FROM MY HOME. BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS HAVE WITNESSED THE PROBLEMS NOW 3-4X.

NHTSA ODI 11062387

THINGS STARTED AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER A CAR HIT ME AND TOOK OFF. I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND STAYED ON, AT CERTAIN TIMES THE CAR EITHER WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STOPPED THE CAR WILL EITHER SHAKE FOR 2-3 MINUTES OR ALSO WHILE STATIONARY THE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT WILL COME ON THEN TURN OFF. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH SLOW OR NOT AS RESPONSIVE ACCELERATION OR UNPROMPTED RPG GAUGE REVVING AND SOMETIMES THATS COUPLED WITH THE SHAKING TO THE POINT THAT MY HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET. I WAS NEVER AWARE OF ANY RECALLS SO IM NOT SURE IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH A POSSIBLE RECALL THAT HASNT BEEN DIAGNOSED BUT THERES GREAT CAUSE FOR CONCERN. - SN: I WASNT ABLE TO CHOOSE EVERY AFFECTED PART.

NHTSA ODI 11055177

THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT REDUCED ENGINE POWER SINCE SEPTEMBER 2016. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED AND NO PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. DURING A RECENT TRIP THE CAR BEGAN TO HAVE REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND SURGING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TROUBLE CODE P0171. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO SET AN APPOINTMENT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE CAR ALMOST DIED AT A STOP LIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS EVAP PURGE CONTROL SOLENOID.

NHTSA ODI 11021228

WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE WAS SURGING WITHOUT APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ILLUMINATED. WE CONTINUED DRIVING UNTIL ABOUT AN HOUR LATER WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY THE ENGINE SURGED UNTIL I SHUT IT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THE SERVICE ADVISOR REQUESTED WE BRING IT BACK THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING SATURDAY. DURING THE DRIVE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE MONDAY APPOINTMENT AND STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE RPM'S DROPPED IN HALF AND RAN ROUGH FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE RPM DECREASE AND ROUGH RUNNING HAS BEEN A LONGER TERM ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED WITH NO RESOLUTION. I WAS ADVISED BASED ON CURRENT DIAGNOSIS THAT THE EVAP PURGE CONTROL SOLENOID NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11015939

ACCELERATION IS BAD, AND INCONSISTEN. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS THE SHIFTER BUTTON GETS STUCK EVERYTIME NEVER FAILS. THAT'S A REAL SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING I ACCIDENTLY BUMP IT, AND THE CAR WENT INTO MANUAL, WHILE DRIVING. I BARELY TOUCHED IT AND IT MOVED. THIS IS THE LAST GM CAR THAT I WILL EVER BUY ALWAYS SOMETHING WITH THEIR CARS. THE ACCELERATION FOR THIS CAR ON THE INTERSTATE IS BAD PEOPLE GO AROUND ME BECAUSE IT TAKES SO LONG TO ACCELERATE, IT ALSO HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH.

NHTSA ODI 11006138

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING OIL AND SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL CAP SEAL WAS TORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA ODI 10990938

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL REGARDING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 10983295

KEY STICKS IN THE IGNITION, UNABLE TO REMOVE WHEN IN PARK POSITION. I WORK A DANGEROUS JOB IN BAD AREAS AND CANNOT DEPEND ON THE KEY BEING RELEASED FROM THE SWITCH AFTER PARKING. WHATCH PUTS ME IN A AWKWARD SITUATION IN REGARDS TO SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI 10935951

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FOR THE PAST YEAR NOW I HAVE NOTICED MY RPM GAUGE STICKING AND REVVING ON ITS OWN. IT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN MORE CONSISTENTLY. WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWNHILL THE RPM GAUGE WILL REV HIGH AND STAY STUCK HIGH. THEN WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT WILL REV HIGH ON ITS OWN AND STAY STUCK AND EVENTUALLY COME BACK DOWN. SOMETHING NEW I HAVE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE IS WHEN I'M AT A COMPLETE STOP THE RPM GAUGE WILL START REVVING UP AND DOWN ON IT'S OWN WHILE MY CAR LIGHTS BRIGHTEN AND DIM AND MY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THAT I'M SLIDING WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE I'M AT A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO FEEL JERKY LATELY WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO AND I ONLY HAVE 58,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 10894186

CAR SHAKES VERY BAD WHEN DRIVING AND APPROACHING A STOP.

NHTSA ODI 10889356

GM PART NUMBER 95027313 OUTLET DUCT CONNECTING THE AIR BOX TO THE THROTTLE BODY HAS SHREDDED IN 30,000 MILES OF USE. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RUN LEAN (ODB2 ERROR CODE P0171) RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED FUEL ECONOMY, POOR ACCELERATION, ROUGH IDLE, AND POTENTIAL FAILURES TO A NUMBER OF COSTLY SENSORS AND COMPONENTS, AS WELL AS ALLOWING DIRTY, UN-FILTERED DIRECTLY INTO THE ENGINE. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALS 26,000 SEARCH RESULTS INCLUDING FORUMS AND MESSAGE BOARDS WHERE COUNTLESS SONIC OWNERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PRODUCT DEFECT AND GM NEEDS TO PROVIDE A REPAIR SOLUTION FOR OWNERS OF THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THE PART HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT, WHERE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE VEHICLE DROPPING STEADILY FROM THE ADVERTISED 29/CITY/40 HIGHWAY TO AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 25 MPG HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10885167

I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM A DEALER, WHO SET ME UP FOR AN UPSIDE LOAN. PUTTING ME INTO ANOTHER CHEVY WITH NOW 2 CAR LOANS TO PAY OFF. THE CAR HAS STALLED ON ME AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE OWNING IT. THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT WITH ACCELERATION. IT JOLTS AND JUMPS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ONE, SOMETIMES IT GOES OFF, THEN WILL COME BACK ON. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP YET ASSUMING IT WOULD BE A HUGE EXPENSE FOR THEM TO FIX AND FIND IT. TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE GARAGE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE EITHER. THIS CAR IS CRAP, I OWE TWICE AS MUCH AS ITS WORTH AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. I DRIVE AN HOUR TO WORK EVERY DAY ON THE HIGHWAY AND I AM TERRIFIED I AM GOING TO CRASH EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY, ON THE STREET. IN THE MORNING WHEN IT START UP IT JOLTS AND SPUTTERS. IF YOU USE THE HEAT, IT SMELLS LIKE ITS BURNING AND THERE IS A HIGH SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE.

NHTSA ODI 10873575

MY CHEVY SONIC HAS HAD A CLICKING NOISE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IT GOES DEAD WHEN GAS CAP IS REMOVED AND WILL NOT CRANK BACK. I HAD IT WORKED ON AT A DEALERSHIP $306 LATER IT IS STILL DOING THE EXACT SAME THINGS. I PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH 21 MILES ON IT. I AM ON THE ROAD FOR MY JOB. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A HEADACHE SINCE PURCHASE. I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER PAYMENT. SURE CANT AFFORD THE BILL FROM THE SHOP WHEN IT DOESN'T FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TO BE JUMPED OFF TO START. I PURCHASED NEW BATTERY EVEN WHEN AUTO PARTS STORE TESTED OLD BATTERY AND STATED IT WAS GOOD AND ALTERNATOR WAS CHARGING. I AM FURIOUS. WHAT IS A HONEST PERSON TO DO?????WHEN DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HOLD UP TO CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. NOTHING TO THEM IT RUINS YOUR CREDIT, NOT THEIR NAME. I HAVE HAD TO BE TOWED DUE TO VEHICLE NOT CRANKING EVEN WHEN BEING JUMPED OFF. HELP!!! DEALERSHIP/GM SHOULD BE HONEST AND FIX THE PROBLEMS. APPARENTLY THEY DON'T VALUE REPEAT CUSTOMERS!!!

NHTSA ODI 10864853

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE ENGINE REVVED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER HEAD AND NECK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10822556

ON MY WAY TO WORK NOTICED THE CAR LACKING SOME POWER WHEN ACCELERATING TO GET ON HIGHWAY. OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS CAR STARTED SOUNDING DIFFERENT. (LIKE DRIVING WITH AIR BREATHER OFF) WHILE CHANGING OIL TODAY NOTICED AIR INTAKE TUBE IS CRACKED. WHICH COULD ALLOW DIRT AND MOISTURE TO BYPASS FILTER AND GO INTO ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE. NOW THE CAR HAS 52130 MILES ON IT 2013 SONIC LS. AIR INTAKE TUBE SHOULD LAST LONGER THEN 2 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714279

VEHICLE IS LOOSING COOLANT AND A SMALL PUDDLE OF COOLANT DEVELOPED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. COOLANT TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING OVERHEATING WHILE TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT A FAULTY SEAL WAS CAUSING THE WATER PUMP TO LEAK COOLANT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10681356

WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED DOWN, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS OFF AND IT IS ABOUT 86 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST QUIRKY INCIDENT TO HAPPEN IN THIS VEHICLE. I JUST BOUGHT IT ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO. ALL THE STANDARD MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE TO THIS VEHICLE. NOT SURE WHY IT IS SMOKING. AFTER IT BEING IN OUR CARE FOR 4 MONTHS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ALSO NOT GO OFF, AND THE REMOTE START DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS BECOME LOOSE AS WELL. NO ONE HAS BEEN HANGING ON IT, JUST SIMPLY OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR. ALSO THE PLASTIC CAP ON THE SHIFT HAS POPPED OFF. I WILL BE GETTING IT CHECKED TOMORROW AND POSSIBLY GETTING RID OF IT SOONER THAN LATER. THIS IS A VERY POOR GM MODEL CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643177

THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2013, BUT IT IS HAPPENING DAILY NOW. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. IT IS STUCK. I TAKE THE KEY OUT AND PUT IT BACK IN AND TRY TO TURN WITH NO LUCK. TODAY IT TOOK 15 TIMES OF TRYING TO TURN THE KEY AND TAKING IT OUT AND PUTTING IT BACK IN BEFORE IT WOULD START. I HAVE EVEN VIDEOED MYSELF TRYING TO START MY CAR SO I CAN SHOW THE DEALERSHIP. I AM SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT IN TOMORROW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10598836

AFTER HASELWOOD CHEVROLET BUICK GMC DEALERSHIP FIXED THE TRANSMISSION SEALS I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE IS IDLING ROUGH WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT I NOTICE THIS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10598257

WHEN IN PARK, THE ENGINE IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. AS A RESULT OF THE ROUGH IDLE, THE FUEL ECONOMY IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. TWICE, THE CAR HAS STOPPED RUNNING WHEN AT A STOP SIGN/TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN I REPORTED TO MY DEALER, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THERE WAS A TSB ON THE ISSUE AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO RUN TIER 1 GASOLINE IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT GM DOES NOT HAVE A "FIX" FOR THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS THE 1.8 L GASOLINE ENGINE WITH SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10594446

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 10575209